E043 Body Image

Most people print off a copy of the post test and circle the answers as they read through the materials. Then, you can log in, go to "My Account" and under "Courses I Need to Take" click on the blue "Enter Answers" button. After completing the post test, you can print your certificate. Working With Disorders of Body Image: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals Introduction Most of us are familiar with the classic picture of the beautiful but emaciated young woman looking into a mirror. From the mirror’s reflection peers her obese counterpart. The young woman viewing her reflection radiates a sense of profound despair and hopelessness, yet the observer is often left with the feeling of confusion. How can this thin and attractive young woman see herself so differently than reality? How can she perceive herself as somehow deficient? Why is the mirror so distorted? Although this severe a degree of body image distortion is seen in specific segments of clinical practice, there is evidence to support the fact that body dissatisfaction is rampant in both clinical and nonclinical populations, and these concerns span a range of ages and genders. Petroski (2012) looked at body dissatisfaction among male and female adolescents, finding that the prevalence of BI dissatisfaction was 60.4% (males = 54.5%, females = 65.7%). Boys were more likely to wish to increase the size of their body silhouette (26.4%) while girls wished to reduce theirs (52.4%). Monteath and McCabe (1997) found that 44% of women verbalize negative feelings about their individual body parts as well as their body as a whole. A similar survey by Psychology Today found that study respondents were concerned about their mid and lower torsos, weight and overall appearance. In this study, 56% of female respondents and 40% of male respondents were dissatisfied with their physical appearance (Cash, 1997). The later statistics are surprising as body image concerns were once thought to be a “female problem.” These trends have been conformed in a recent meta-analysis of body image among college students (Cash et al., 2004). Differences also exist across ethnic groups. African American women, as compared with Caucasian women, typically report less body image dissatisfaction (Celio et al., 2002). Among other ethnic groups, body image dissatisfaction appears to be related to the degree of acculturation. As Asian and Hispanic American individuals acculturate to American customs, body image dissatisfaction appears to increase and mirror that of the majority culture (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). With statistics such as this, it’s no wonder that most clinicians have seen clients who are dissatisfied with their bodies, or whose sense of physical self is distorted. Body image plays a role in many disorders including anorexia, bulimia and body dysmorphic disorder. Even the most casual contact with a client with body image concerns demonstrates how painful this can be, affecting a client’s sense of self, and feelings about their competence. The case below provides ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com 1 an overview of some of the factors related to body image. Case Study Paul is a 43-year-old married male. He is seeking the services of Dr. Pine. In the phone call to set up the appointment, Paul seemed hesitant to provide many details of why he was coming for treatment, sharing only that there were some issues in his marriage. On meeting Paul, Dr. Pine immediately noted his physical condition. Although short in stature, it was clear that Paul was very muscular, likely a weight lifter. During the assessment, Paul spoke with Dr. Pine about his marital problems. Paul’s wife of 17 years was considering separation due to Paul’s recent job loss and increasing distance. Paul had lost the job due to sexual harassment. He stated that he had been talking to a female co-worker about her body, but that he did not see the harm in it. In session, Paul also discussed his weight lifting, sharing with Dr. Pine that he was spending about 4 hours per day on a workout routine that consisted of aerobics and heavy lifting. To help build muscle, Paul consumed about 150 grams of protein per day. Paul confided that he was not satisfied with his current progress, stating that he felt “small” and “weak.” Paul was considering purchasing steroids from a friend at gym. He was not certain how he would do so, however, because his wife kept track of the budget and was already upset about the amount he was spending on nutritional supplements. Despite the financial strain, Paul was not yet seeking a new job, preferring to have the time to focus on his workouts. During the psychosocial assessment, Paul disclosed that he was born with cerebral palsy. Paul’s family was quite protective of him, and sought the best treatment they could afford, often sacrificing their own needs to pay for it. Paul was happy to note that the only continued evidence of his condition was a slight limp. As this case illustrates, body image is a complex issue. There are behavioral and interpersonal consequences of body image concerns. Many factors play a role in body image distortions and dissatisfaction. This course will explore these issues and provide a framework for treatment. Objectives: After finishing this course, the participant will be able to: Define body image Discuss the continuum of body image disturbance Demonstrate familiarity with body image development Discuss cognitive processing theory List common tools for assessment Discuss DSM-5 disorders related to body image Describe research about BDD, and its treatment Discuss pharmacological interventions Describe approaches to the treatment of body image ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com 2 Defining Body Image What is body image and why is it important? Body image was defined as early as the 1930’s. Schilder (1935) provides the following definition: “the perceptions of the self that are centered on the individual’s sense of their own physical existence, both anatomical and physiological.” Similarly Fisher and Cleveland (1968) define body image as “a term that refers to the body as a psychological experience, and focuses on the individual’s feelings and attitudes toward his own body.” Slade (1988) also focuses on the affective domain of body image — the reactions people have to their bodies. He states that body image is “the picture people have in their minds of the size, shape and form of their bodies and to people’s feelings concerning these characteristics and our constituent body parts.” It is easiest to appreciate the complexity of body image by looking at the components of body image (Cash, Wood, Phelps, & Boyd, 1991). These factors apply to people with healthy and unhealthy perceptions of their bodies and include: • Cognitive—thoughts and beliefs about the body • Perceptual—internal feelings and sensations related to one’s body. This includes feelings of vulnerability and tiredness and sensations of hunger and fullness • Affective—feelings about the body • Evaluative—judgments about the body • Social—awareness of others' feelings and attitudes • Kinesthetic—sensed fluidity of movement (openness, heaviness, gracefulness) • Affective—feelings about the body Although these components of body image are relevant for people with and without clinical disorders, they are particularly helpful to consider when looking at dysfunctional behaviors. For example, Hilde Bruch (1973), a pioneer in the field of eating disorders, was one of the first to recognize that the perceptual aspect of body image is key in both anorexia and obesity. We will look at this in more detail in our discussion of clinical disorders. Body Image Disturbance It is helpful to think of healthy versus unhealthy body image as a continuum with levels of disturbance ranging from none to extreme, with most people falling near the middle of the range. Clearly delineating where there is “normal” versus “disturbed” body image is sometimes challenging. Often higher levels of body disturbance are associated with other clinical conditions, such as eating disorders and depression. Looking at the idea of a continuum, let’s begin with positive body image. People with positive body image view their bodies in an affirmative way. They are not unduly influenced by their weight and have a consistently accurate perception of internal body cues. These individuals also engage in healthy body-related behaviors, such as moderate exercise, and appropriate nutritional intake. At the middle ranges of the continuum there may be some body dissatisfaction. Often people at the middle ranges experience some affective experience related to their body, such as ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com 3 mild depression, and may engage in exercise or dieting in an effort to change their bodies. At the middle ranges of the continuum, it is important to note that while there may be dissatisfaction related to body image, there is generally an accurate overall perception. At the more negative end of the body image continuum, there is more extreme dissatisfaction with one or more aspects of one’s body (see below) or a more distorted sense of body size, shape or sensitivity to body cues. Ann Kearney-Cooke, Ph.D. (1989/2002), a psychologist who has used guided imagery to explored the symbolic nature of body image disturbance, and has done research into dieting frequency among college females and its association with disordered eating, body image, and related psychological problems. Kearney-Cook has found that individuals with unhealthy observations of their bodies generally experience one of the following: • Dissatisfaction with body size—those with body size dissatisfaction accurately perceive their bodies but are disappointed by the way their bodies look.

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